TIRANA, Dec 6 /ATA/ – The German Embassy in Albania on Saturday handed over modern document-reading and detection equipment to the country’s Border Police, aimed at strengthening controls and combating migrant smuggling and human trafficking.
The handover took place at the General Directorate of the State Police in the presence of German Ambassador Karl Bergner, Deputy Director General of Police Sokol Bizhga, and the EU Delegation’s representative in Albania, Francesca Varlese. The equipment was formally received by Border Police Director Saimir Muçaj.
In a statement, the German Embassy said the equipment – worth about 285,000 euros – was provided on the initiative of the German Federal Police under the EU4FAST project, titled “EU Support for Strengthening the Fight Against Migrant Smuggling and Human Trafficking in the Western Balkans.”
The project is being implemented across the region by the German federal government, Italy’s Interior Ministry, the Dutch Foreign Ministry and the French government, with support from the European Union.
According to the embassy, the new technology is expected to reduce waiting times at Albanian border crossings, enabling faster and safer travel to and from neighbouring countries. It is also intended to help detect and prevent life-threatening forms of migrant smuggling.
Ambassador Bergner said the ceremony sent a strong signal of the partners’ shared commitment to strengthening the rule of law and fighting organised crime.
“Germany is proud to support Albania and the Western Balkans region in improving border management and protecting people at risk. These efforts are part of a broader coordinated approach involving Germany, the European Union, France and the Netherlands to improve conditions for the prevention and fight against migrant smuggling and human trafficking in line with EU standards,” Bergner said.
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